In an unprecedented move by the company, HP will only provide firmware updates to Enterprise customers that are under warranty after February 19.

In a press release, Vice President Mary McCoy announced firmware updates through the HP support centre will only be available to customers with a valid warranty, Care Pack Service or support agreement. The move could see customers forking out hundreds or even thousands on Care Pack Services, which provide hardware and software support, as well as services, to receive the latest updates for their devices.

McCoy says while the move is a change from the past, it will place the company in line with the best practices in the industry.

“We know this is a change from how we’ve done business in the past; however, this aligns with industry best practices and is the right decision for our customers and partners."

The company Vice President says customers are given first priority because they are given a choice to pay for additional upgrades.

Firmware is the read-only programming that is embedded into hardware. Firmware updates can be used to add functions, fix bugs, enhance security or simply improve performance of the device. Network devices such as routers and servers often receive firmware updates to ensure users are gaining optimal performance.

Existing customers are advised to update their laptops, servers, tablets and other HP devices by the February 19.